Why the Ivy League is not the Whole Story for International Applicants

Almost every day, I find something interesting and relevant in the New York Times. 

The beginning of 2018 was no exception. We are in a spin-cycle of daily policy information streaming from the White House and the ongoing battles over immigration, border control and taxes (among other things). Check out this storyabout the economic impact of the current administration's foreign policy. Foreign policy has concrete implications for higher education financing in the US. Here is one academic administrator's take on what colleges and universities should do. 

A lot of my international clients aspire to matriculate at one of a very small, very elite, very selective list of institutions. While those schools are GREAT (and I know, I went to two of them) - there are many more worthy and less selective institutions that are extremely interested in international applicants. Why? Because International students increase diversity, broaden the institution's alumni reach, and are mostly full payers. Less selective schools often use endowment aid to attract the best of these students by generous scholarship packages for those students that are above the average GPA or test scores of their most recent entering class. 

Why would they do that? Because the test scores and GPAs that are reported to ranking organizations like US News and World Report that indicate selectivity and the academic achievement of the student body have become one of the most important marketing tools schools rely on. 

If you are applying to US schools, don't just consider the "Ivy Plus". Broadening your list can have some very significant economic benefits.